Cripps Harries Hall has become the first law firm to open an office at Discovery Park, Sandwich.

The company employs 300 staff and has bases in Tunbridge Well, Kings Hill and London.

The move is the latest in a string of announcements for Discovery Park, which already hosts 61 companies and more than 1,300 people.

Cripps’ technology partner Irfan Baluch will lead the practice.

He said: “There’s a growing community of businesses at Discovery Park, including many in life sciences and fast growing technology-based industries.

“It makes perfect sense for us to establish a base here to showcase our extensive legal expertise including intellectual property, mergers and acquisitions, and commercial law.

“The move also recognises that there is a real buzz in East Kent at the moment, with the area benefitting from recent infrastructure improvements, the prospect of further rail investment reducing journey times to and from London and the rest of Kent, as well as access to loans from Expansion East Kent.”

Senior partner Michael Stevens added: “Thanks to High Speed 1, Manston Airport, Dover Harbour Board and Eurotunnel, this part of Kent is arguably the best connected part of the county for international business, and now is the right time for Cripps Harries Hall to establish an office in the area.”